fell over or collapsed, usually suddenly and completely; lost power or authority.
From 'topple,' which comes from Middle English 'topen,' possibly related to 'top.' The word evolved to mean 'to fall from the top' and came into common use in the 16th century.
Topple perfectly captures both literal and political collapse—a building topples in an earthquake, but a government topples in a revolution. The word itself seems to imitate the action, with that 'p' sound like the moment of tipping.
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